Reversible seat



(Mode1.)

E. B. BRIDGMAN.

REVERSIBLE SEAT.

Patented Eeb..21, 1882.

N. PETERS. Phuln-Lilhngnplmr. wmhin mn. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELISHA B. BRIDGMAN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

} I I REVERSIBLE SEAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 253,837, dated February 21, 1882. Application filed October 21,1880. (Model) To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELISHA B. BRIDGMAN, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Reversible Seats, of which the following is a specification.

This improvement is applicable to reversible seats for various purposes, and is especially adapted to seats and settees for chapeland hall use, horse and steam car seats, 8w.

This invention relates to that class of reversible seats in which the seat proper will always incline or tip downward toward the back, whether it is reversed or not, thus greatly adding to the comfort of the occupants.

The nature of the invention is described hereinafter, and illustrated in the accompany, ing drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a seat embodying the improvement. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a view of a portion of the seat with the parts separated. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectionof one end enlarged.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

a is the reversible back, swinging from the pivots a, upon the end pieces, I); The frame which connects the end pieces, 1), consists of two parallel longitudinally-placed bars, 0 0, provided at each end next the end pieces, I), with a cross-piece, (1. Each cross-piece d supports a spring, 0, whose upper end is secured to and supports a block, f. Each block f is provided with a tenon, f, which extends into a mortise or opening, I), cut in the inner side of the end piece, 0, next to said block. This opening 1) is considerablylarger than the tenon f, for reasons which will hereinafter appear. The seat g is supported by these two blocks f, and is provided on its under side with two parallel ribs, 71. h, corresponding with the bars 0 0, but a little nearer together.

The operation is'as follows: When the back is down, as in Fig. 1, it pushes the seat forward as far as the tenons f can go in the openings b, which brings the front rib h upon the front bar 0 and the rear rib just forward of the rear bar. As soon as any perupon the rear bar 0, the rear rib h dropping just in front of said bar, while its front portion, of course, is raised the thickness of the front rib h above the front bar, 0. Thus it 5 5 will be seen that when occupied the rear porson sits upon the seat its rear portion drops tion of the seat is lowest, the front rib h supporting the front portion of the seat upon the front bar 0, and the rear rib h acting as a stop to prevent the seat from slipping back or rattling, both the supporting-rib and the rib acting as a stop performing their functions the entire length of the seat. If the backbe raised, the springs 6 lift the seat and hold it level until the back is dropped, and if it is dropped upon the other side the effect is the same, the then front rib resting on its bar a and the rear rib ready to drop in front of its bar a as soon as pressed down by an occupant of the seat. When occupied, whether reversed or not, the rear portion or portion next the back a is lowest, thus affording comfort to the occupant and avoiding any necessity of hollowing out the seat.

It will be seenthat each rib h acts as a back stop and support alternately as the seat is reversed, while the ends of the mortises I) act as'front stops to the seat through the tenons f.

Cushions k are placed at various points to (leaden the sound.

In practice the friction of the back in falling is usually sufficient to carry down the seat without the aid of the occupant.

Having thus'fully described my improve ment,what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In combination with the frame I) and bars 0 0, extending from one end to the other of the settee, the back a and seat 9, provided with the longitudinal ribs h h, extending the length of the seat and placed nearer together than said bars, as shown,each rib acting alternately as a seat-support and back stop as the seat is reversed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with the frame b, provided with the relatively large openings b, and bars 0 c, the seat 9, provided with the ribs h it, blocks f, and tenons f, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In combination with the bars 00, crossbars at d, and springs c e, the seat 9, provided with the ribs h h, and blocks f, provided with the tenons f, and the frame or end pieces, I), 

